Apparatus Insider Joe

10/15/2026

Greetings from a balmy 50° Duluth! 🌧️

We're at the Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Conference this week, and I took a quick walk around this 2,000-gallon pumper-tanker. It's headed to Clayton, New York, and it's the second truck they've bought from us. That's a pretty good feeling.

This one started out as a stock unit. Clayton added their own touches: painted doors and ladders, electric dump valves you can run from the back of the truck, and a painted aluminum drop tank cover.

It's a Darley 1,000 GPM pump with Class1 multiplex inside. It's a beautiful truck, rain and all.
If you're at the conference and have some time this afternoon, come find us. We're always happy to talk trucks. 🚒

Clayton Volunteer Fire Department

10/13/2026

I enjoy getting to show off the products we make here at Midwest Fire, here is an opportunity to not only get in on an employee owned company, but also make some pretty cool products. Don't hesitate to reach out with questions.

We're HIRING! Join our production team. Apply here. 👇
https://midwestfire.com/careers/

10/09/2026

Fire prevention week is an excellent opportunity to engage with the community and share info about fire safety. I hope you all had as much fun as I did!

10/05/2026

This one's heading north, and it's ready for the cold.

Here's a quick walkaround of one of two 3,000-gallon poly tankers we built for our friends in Canada. It gets cold where this truck is going, so it's built for that. There's a pump house heater, the pump panel is tucked inside a compartment you can close up, and Onspot chains drop at the press of a button.

It's set up for water supply too: dumps on both sides and the rear, dual direct fills, a drop tank carrier, and a hose box on the back so you can leave supply line connected. ❄️🚒

Living through Minnesota winters on our own department, we know what cold does to a pump. This truck is ready for it.

09/25/2026

Congrats to the Cato Volunteer Fire Department on their new tanker pumper! 🚒

TP-1 started life as a stock truck. After a few modifications, it's built for exactly what a rural department needs: 3,000 gallons of poly tank and a Darley 1,000 GPM pump. The back end is set up to dump fast, with Newton stainless dump valves you can run from either side and a drop tank that comes down with the push of a button.

As a figherfighter myself, I'll say this: the best trucks are the ones where nobody has to think about how to run them. This one checks that box.

Thanks to Cato for trusting us with this one. Stay safe out there!
Darley

09/11/2026

09/09/2026

Took a walk around this one before it heads out the door. 🚒

All-Poly Series, 2,000 gallons, and spec'd by those who clearly know what a rural water shuttle looks like.

Front bumper preconnect so the first line is off the truck fast. Newton stainless dump valve out back. A rear direct tank fill, lighted steps, tank gauges you can actually read in the dark, and a tip-down drop tank carrier that doesn't require a ladder and a prayer.

Inside the cab there's a touchscreen that runs pump engagement, scene lights, seat belt monitoring, and diagnostics. Nice thing about that last one — when a light comes on, your chief can see whether it's a real problem or a nuisance code before anybody starts pulling panels.

Congrats to the crew at Cass County ESD #1. Good-looking rig and a smart spec.

09/02/2026

Town of Calumet's new Tender 352 is a truck with one job — and it does it really well.

Took a lap around this one in the shop today. 3,000 gallons, no pump, black over red — one of the last Freightliner M2 112s we'll build on, since that chassis is discontinued.

The stuff I liked most is the little stuff: a direct fill with the valving tucked behind the panel so it doesn't fight the side dump, a drain so you can relieve pressure without soaking your feet, two Zico drop tank carriers that raise and lower with a button, and dump controls on both sides lit up so you can find them in the dark.

Nothing crazy. Just a water hauler built the way we'd want one on our own rig.

Congrats to Calumet Fire/Rescue — she'll be home soon.

08/26/2026

Had the opportunity to practice grain bin rescue during our technical rescue drill this week. The Luverne Fire Department has had several successful grain bin rescues over the years and this is directly attributable to practice and having the correct tools. Huge shoutout to CHS Eastern Farmers - they have supported us by allowing us to utilize their facilities as well as donating equipment critical to successful rescues. THANK YOU!

08/24/2026

Grabbed a quick walkaround at the shop today — a Darley PSP 1500 sitting on the cart, fully plumbed and ready for the pumphouse.

It's honestly my favorite stage of a build. Every intake, every discharge, every valve on here got put in that exact spot on purpose. 6" non-gated intakes on both sides. 4" tank-to-pump. A 4" LDH discharge on the curbside that runs almost straight off the pump — that thing's going to flow. Crosslays plumbed for inch-and-three-quarters up front, deck gun off a 3", tank fill, hose reel.

Here's the part departments don't always realize: once this module is built and dropped in, that's the truck for the next 25 years. Where the big discharge sits, how many elbows are in the line, which side the pony suction is on — you decide all of it now, not later.

Building these the way we'd want them on our own rig is the whole job. 🚒



Got a truck in the planning stage? Comment or shoot me a message — happy to talk through it.